Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I presume, then, that in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the Haddington Road agreement, that those moneys will be re-instated to those workers. The Minister should bear in mind that whatever about workers having been seized of the necessity to balance the books, to save the day and to save the State, as he asserts, if I recall correctly they were certainly seized by the prospect of the Minister waving a big stick and telling those very workers that if they were not agreeable to cuts to their wages that he would legislate for them anyhow. Does the Minister remember saying that? Does he remember that debacle because the workers have not forgotten it?

The reality of life for large numbers of low-paid workers in the public service and Civil Service is that they are struggling and struggling badly and along with everyone else they now face the prospect of additional taxes, not least a water tax to which the Minister is committed.

Can the Minister say - not in coded language but in very straightforward language - that he will honour the commitment made to those on pay rates of €35,000 and less, that they will have their proper salary re-instated and will he tell us when that might happen?

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